The Medical Thread

[Hammersmith bookie]

As I said at the time I was in there, there were meant to be 6 nurses on the ward and there were only 2 due to sickness and other factors. Alot of the hospitals in Greater London are on their knees and mostly not down to them. I know there were more strikes planned, and don't know if there was one yesterday. I don't blame anyone for anything but if there wasn't a specialist there to call me the least I'd expect it a courtesy call to let me know and maybe rearrange it. I've had no contact with anyone from the hospital since I got discharged. My discharge sheet was totally incorrect and if I hadn't visited my doctor and pharmacist, I wouldn't have been put on the statins they both told me I should be on.

 

[Hammersmith bookie]

I found my dealings with Guildford Hosp excellent. If Epsom are underperforming, perhaps you could consider moving?

Is that the Royal Surrey hospital ?

 

[Goldhawk-Road]

Is that the Royal Surrey hospital ?

Yes, Royal Surrey on the outskirts of Guildford

 

[Hammersmith bookie]

Agree, post code is critical.


Yes

Yep, meant to be very good there although they very nearly closed their Stroke department until locals forced them into keeping it open after vociferous complaints !

 

[Goldhawk-Road]

Yep, meant to be very good there although they very nearly closed their Stroke department until locals forced them into keeping it open after vociferous complaints !

Ah, hadn't heard that. My late Mum had cardiac treatment there. It was good. My treatment for early prostate cancer there was exemplary

 

[Hammersmith bookie]

Ah, hadn't heard that. My late Mum had cardiac treatment there. It was good. My treatment for early prostate cancer there was exemplary

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almost 6 years ago now !

 

[Goldhawk-Road]

My experience with the NHS has been excellent over the last few months.
I think it very much depends on your postcode and maybe a little luck.
Our experience with care for Mrs Rangercol's mum is a very different story however.
We've struck lucky with the private care company that come in 4 times a day, funded by the NHS, but overall the system is broken.

Agree, Hospital service is post code critical.

As for care, you're right about it being broken. Hot political issue no one will touch.

 

[Kilburn]

So.....bit of a rollercoaster today.
Went in at 730am, but have had sciatica type numbness in my other leg and pins and needles in the foot.
Surgeon delayed the operation ordered a scan. If too much back damage, that would have to be sorted before the hip replacement.
Anyway, the scan showed a little degeneration, but no more than would be expected.
Could mean recovery will take a little longer.
Anyway, got sliced open at 330pm and now high as a kite on pain relief!!

The best of luck with your recover CoI, I turn 70 this year and am just waiting for everything to start falling apart! I recall after my 2nd vasectomy, 2 years after my 5th daughter was born in 2001 (they are now 22 - 31, so this was a busy time for me working, Mother in a nursing home for 12 years here in Canada), taking Tylenol 3's to aid my recuperation (which is basically to stay off your feet), and thinking at the time that I wanted to be on them forever with a "dulled" mind, but the realities of life with an often work related travelling wife, snapped me out of that idea pretty smartly!

 

[Steelmonkey]

Some interesting news for those of us with high blood.pressure...

Wall squats and planks best at lowering blood pressure

• Published
  26 July

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Wall squats are particularly good at lowering high resting blood pressure, a study of previous trials suggests

By Philippa Roxby
Health reporter


Strength-training exercises such as wall squats or holding the plank position are among the best ways to lower blood pressure, a study suggests.

Current guidance focusing mainly on walking, running and cycling should be updated, the UK researchers say.

Analysis, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, of trials involving 16,000 people found all exercise lowered high blood pressure.

But wall squats and planking led to larger falls than aerobic exercise.

These isometric exercises are designed to build strength without moving muscles or joints.

The plank position, which resembles a press-up, with elbows directly beneath shoulders, legs stretched out behind, strengthens the abdomen.

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Wall squats involve positioning the feet 2ft (60cm) from a wall and sliding the back down it until the thighs are parallel to the ground.

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Isometric exercises place a very different stress on the body to aerobic exercise, says study author Dr Jamie O'Driscoll, from Canterbury Christ Church University.

"They increase the tension in the muscles when held for two minutes, then cause a sudden rush of blood when you relax," he says.

"This increases the blood flow, but you must remember to breathe."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-66303982

I'm off for a bit of planking

 

[Goldhawk-Road]

Some interesting news for those of us with high blood.pressure...

Wall squats and planks best at lowering blood pressure

• Published
  26 July

Share

You must log in or register to see images

Wall squats are particularly good at lowering high resting blood pressure, a study of previous trials suggests

By Philippa Roxby
Health reporter


Strength-training exercises such as wall squats or holding the plank position are among the best ways to lower blood pressure, a study suggests.

Current guidance focusing mainly on walking, running and cycling should be updated, the UK researchers say.

Analysis, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, of trials involving 16,000 people found all exercise lowered high blood pressure.

But wall squats and planking led to larger falls than aerobic exercise.

These isometric exercises are designed to build strength without moving muscles or joints.

The plank position, which resembles a press-up, with elbows directly beneath shoulders, legs stretched out behind, strengthens the abdomen.

You must log in or register to see images

Wall squats involve positioning the feet 2ft (60cm) from a wall and sliding the back down it until the thighs are parallel to the ground.

You must log in or register to see images

Isometric exercises place a very different stress on the body to aerobic exercise, says study author Dr Jamie O'Driscoll, from Canterbury Christ Church University.

"They increase the tension in the muscles when held for two minutes, then cause a sudden rush of blood when you relax," he says.

"This increases the blood flow, but you must remember to breathe."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-66303982

I'm off for a bit of planking

I could do those wall squats for as long as you like. I'd only ask for one thing. A chair

 

[Star of David Bardsley]

Some interesting news for those of us with high blood.pressure...

Wall squats and planks best at lowering blood pressure

• Published
  26 July

Share

You must log in or register to see images

Wall squats are particularly good at lowering high resting blood pressure, a study of previous trials suggests

By Philippa Roxby
Health reporter


Strength-training exercises such as wall squats or holding the plank position are among the best ways to lower blood pressure, a study suggests.

Current guidance focusing mainly on walking, running and cycling should be updated, the UK researchers say.

Analysis, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, of trials involving 16,000 people found all exercise lowered high blood pressure.

But wall squats and planking led to larger falls than aerobic exercise.

These isometric exercises are designed to build strength without moving muscles or joints.

The plank position, which resembles a press-up, with elbows directly beneath shoulders, legs stretched out behind, strengthens the abdomen.

You must log in or register to see images

Wall squats involve positioning the feet 2ft (60cm) from a wall and sliding the back down it until the thighs are parallel to the ground.

You must log in or register to see images

Isometric exercises place a very different stress on the body to aerobic exercise, says study author Dr Jamie O'Driscoll, from Canterbury Christ Church University.

"They increase the tension in the muscles when held for two minutes, then cause a sudden rush of blood when you relax," he says.

"This increases the blood flow, but you must remember to breathe."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-66303982

I'm off for a bit of planking

Planks are hard and not a great return on investment IMO. Get your steps in, get a doable gym programme (even a home gym bodyweight type thing if you don’t want to go to an actual gym but it’s far better if you do) and most importantly have a half decent diet with 2g of protein per kilo of weight. Piece of piss if you’re old enough to be retired and young enough to get about a bit.

 

[sb_73]

Planks are hard and not a great return on investment IMO. Get your steps in, get a doable gym programme (even a home gym bodyweight type thing if you don’t want to go to an actual gym but it’s far better if you do) and most importantly have a half decent diet with 2g of protein per kilo of weight. Piece of piss if you’re old enough to be retired and young enough to get about a bit.

Asking people who have never done it before, particularly those of an age (like me) to have high blood pressure, to hold a plank for 2 minutes is insane. Absolutely agree with you re exercise, bit of cardiac, bit of weights, and diet.

They’ll be another bit of advice next week, doubtless also on the BBC, which contradicts this.

 

[Star of David Bardsley]

Asking people who have never done it before, particularly those of an age (like me) to have high blood pressure, to hold a plank for 2 minutes is insane. Absolutely agree with you re exercise, bit of cardiac, bit of weights, and diet.

They’ll be another bit of advice next week, doubtless also on the BBC, which contradicts this.

I think I’d struggle to do more than a minute. Maybe 90 seconds if I really had to.

The weights are underrated for you oldiewonks. Keeping the muscle mass in the legs is incredibly important.

 

[sb_73]

Took my mum (83) for a cataract operation today. Need identified (via specsavers) in late June, referred to GP, put into system, visit for first assessment in July, operation (they wanted to do it earlier, but my mum had stuff on….) today. In and out in under an hour.

An NHS procedure, this was contracted out to a private clinic called NewMedica in Gloucester. All it does is eye stuff, mainly cataracts, which is an incredibly straightforward operation and the most commonly performed one in the world - millions annually. Requires no general anaesthetic. So it can all be done in a building on a small estate obviously originally designed as an office block. Excellent NHS service - free at the point of delivery, fast from diagnosis to cure, expertly delivered by people who really know their stuff. Doesn’t take up any resources which might be diverted to emergency work. Surely this is a good model for all hyper routine stuff?

The patient is a bit tired but otherwise fine.

 

[Staines R's]

Bracknell has it spot on.
A decent programme of Weight training combined with regular cardio sessions is the way forward. Make the cardio a mix of short sharp speedwork one session, long ploddy runs another.
Add in the regular Protein, good to have a shake about an hour before bedtime every night, and you’ll be running marathons before you know it. Obviously needs cutting down on the Alcohol and fatty foods (which is always my problem)

 

[Steelmonkey]

Took my mum (83) for a cataract operation today. Need identified (via specsavers) in late June, referred to GP, put into system, visit for first assessment in July, operation (they wanted to do it earlier, but my mum had stuff on….) today. In and out in under an hour.

An NHS procedure, this was contracted out to a private clinic called NewMedica in Gloucester. All it does is eye stuff, mainly cataracts, which is an incredibly straightforward operation and the most commonly performed one in the world - millions annually. Requires no general anaesthetic. So it can all be done in a building on a small estate obviously originally designed as an office block. Excellent NHS service - free at the point of delivery, fast from diagnosis to cure, expertly delivered by people who really know their stuff. Doesn’t take up any resources which might be diverted to emergency work. Surely this is a good model for all hyper routine stuff?

The patient is a bit tired but otherwise fine.

The NHS does work in certain sectors....I went to GP in middle of June after being nagged by Mrs for what I thought was a scar on my shoulder. Referred to Dermatology...saw the consultant yesterday and it's a basal cell carcinoma....a really common form of skin cancer and totally treatable if caught early enough...getting it removed next month.

 

[Steelmonkey]

Bracknell has it spot on.
A decent programme of Weight training combined with regular cardio sessions is the way forward. Make the cardio a mix of short sharp speedwork one session, long ploddy runs another.
Add in the regular Protein, good to have a shake about an hour before bedtime every night, and you’ll be running marathons before you know it. Obviously needs cutting down on the Alcohol and fatty foods (which is always my problem)

There's no way my knees would take that form of cardio anymore....walking for me. Quiet spell at work at the moment so I'm out for a 90 minute walk most days


And you can get ****ed if I'm giving up the alcohol....it's my only vice these days!

 

[Star of David Bardsley]

Bracknell has it spot on.
A decent programme of Weight training combined with regular cardio sessions is the way forward. Make the cardio a mix of short sharp speedwork one session, long ploddy runs another.
Add in the regular Protein, good to have a shake about an hour before bedtime every night, and you’ll be running marathons before you know it. Obviously needs cutting down on the Alcohol and fatty foods (which is always my problem)

Can’t even be arsed with intense cardio though I’ve started boxing once a week. Find running and cycling exceptionally boring. A walk down to the pier and back in a weighted vest first thing is enough for me. Weights are going well though.

 

[Staines R's]

There's no way my knees would take that form of cardio anymore....walking for me. Quiet spell at work at the moment so I'm out for a 90 minute walk most days

To be fair mate, your previous service has probably had a lot to do with that. Don't think even at my fittest I could have carried that kind of weight (kit) for the miles you fellas had to march.
There a lot of research out there that says running is no worse for your knees than any other kind of cardio…..but probably just as much saying it is

 

[Staines R's]

Can’t even be arsed with intense cardio though I’ve started boxing once a week. Find running and cycling exceptionally boring. A walk down to the pier and back in a weighted vest first thing is enough for me. Weights are going well though.

I quite enjoy the shorter, faster 4 mile runs…..more than the long ploddy 10 milers.
Though after this trip that I’m on right now, I’ll be back to the drawing board when I start again next week